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Tuesday, 16 July 2013

Farewell Cresswell

Richard
Cresswell's arrival at Bramall Lane was not universally welcomed by Blades
fans, but manager Kevin Blackwell considered it an important move in forming
his squad at the start of the 2009/10 season. Blackwell had previously signed
him whilst in charge at Leeds, pipping United to his signature.

He signed on
loan from Stoke City in September 2009 and was welcomed by booing from some of the Bramall Lane
crowd as he came on as a substitute in a 3-3 draw with Ipswich Town. His
Wednesday past, albeit a brief and largely unsuccessful spell 10 years earlier,
was a bone of contention with some of the Blades support. But like Derek Geary,
Leigh Bromby and others before him, he won over the majority of the Lane
faithful. After his second appearance for the Blades, the following weekend
Cresswell talked of the need to

"show them that I'll give 110% every time
I pull on a shirt".

He more than backed up those words with his actions.

Doing his
best was something you never doubted with Cresswell. He would have played
wherever he was asked with no lack of effort and commitment and at times with
great physical sacrifice. In what turned into a disastrous home game versus
Oldham Athletic in 2012, an injury to Lecsinel Jean-Francois and the sending
off of both Harry Maguire and Matt Lowton saw him play at emergency full back.

Scoring on
his first start for the Blades in a 1-1 draw at home to Doncaster Rovers,
Cresswell crashed into the post, damaging ribs in the process, but played on
through the pain barrier.

"I've got
bruised ribs, but you take that for a goal don't you?"

There was also the
time he was bloodied and bandaged, like a modern day Terry Butcher, in the
Sheffield Derby or when he was playing with broken nose, broken toe and damaged
shoulder when we were suffering a shortage of striking options. He played in a
manner and with a commitment that the youngsters coming through would do well
to note.

Coming into
the Blades side he was often deployed wide, much to the frustration of many
fans who preferred to see a trickier and pacier wide man than the workman like
Yorkshireman. Blackwell argued that Cresswell was used to playing out wide, he
had been deployed wide at Stoke, but many Blades fans believed he was a striker
and should be utilised as a target man. Blackwell persisted with Darius
Henderson.

The
frustration at what was a square-ish peg in a round hole was more directed at
the manager rather than the player. It was hard to criticise when a player was seemingly
not in his best position. When at Stoke, commenting on being played wide left,
Cresswell said;

"I do my best, and I am quite a fit lad so I get through
quite a bit of mileage".

He continued in that manner in the red and white
stripes of United.

After
initially signing on loan he then signed a 1.5 year contract in the January and
ended the 2009/10 season as United's top scorer, scoring 14 goals in 34
appearances. This was encouragement enough for the club to offer him a longer
contract and that summer signed a deal that gave him a further 3 years.

In a
disrupted season with managerial changes and huge turnover in playing personnel,
United stumbled to relegation in 2010/11; Creswell contributing 5 goals in 36
games. But it was the arrival of Danny Wilson and a fluid style of play that
enabled Cresswell to shine, as the perfect foil for Ched Evans. As United just
failed to bounce back to the Championship at the first attempt, 10 goals in 51
appearances does little justice to the effort and work rate of Cresswell's
contribution; running the channels, holding up the ball to bring Evans and
United's free running wide players into the game.

Some will
still argue that he wasn't good enough, both at time and I have read comments
on twitter since his departure was announced, but to that I would say they are
judging him unfairly and reflecting factors largely out of his control.
Firstly, where he was deployed for some of his time at United, secondly his
rumoured salary.

His wages
caused some resentment from Blades fans who used this as a basis to judge his
contribution and the contribution of many of a highly paid squad who were
struggling on the pitch in his first couple of seasons. In a side many would
consider overpaid for what they achieved, the judgement of Cresswell has
worsened, with the decline of the club's league status. His portrayal as a
problem (one of several) for a club trying to reduce a wage bill and meet
Financial Fair Play limits could have seen him scapegoated. Thankfully, I think
he escaped in the end.

Last summer, it appeared both Cresswell and Nick
Montgomery were not being played due to their high wages. Still under contract
and with significant salaries that other clubs would be reluctant to pay,
options were limited for player and club. Whilst the club facilitated a move to
Australia for Montgomery, Cresswell was appointed player-coach allowing the club
to apply only half of his (reportedly five figure weekly) wage to the salary
cap. Allowing United more leeway in the newly applied FFP rules. How much coaching
he did, only those at Shirecliffe know?

Last season
saw his opportunities limited by injuries and better options being available and
whilst you could never fault his effort, it was becoming increasingly clear
that the mind was willing, but the body wasn't able. He still tried to run the
channels, he was still a willing worker and put his body on the line, but he
had lost what pace he had. A loan spell at the end of season saw 2 goals in 5
appearances, before caretaker manager Chris Morgan called for all hands on deck
at Bramall Lane. Not that he was needed on the pitch.

A permanent return
to Bootham Crescent to end a career that has gone full circle appears a good
move for all parties. A step down in level might prolong his playing career as his
brain might carry him through when his legs cannot. It would also be sensible
for Nigel Worthington to utilise him on the training ground and with younger
players.

Cresswell
personifies a time when United thought throwing big (for Championship) wages at
players signed from Premier League clubs was a route out of the Championship.
In the end it was a route out the way they never anticipated and the inability
to sell such players has crippled the club in the years that have followed. He
was part of that downturn in fortunes, but I can't help feeling that with a few
more Richard Cresswells in the team United wouldn't find itself in the position
it does now.